Australia

Australians wishing to check on friends and relatives in affected areas of Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Malaysia and Indonesia should call 1800 002 214.

If you are in one of the countries affected and need consular assistance, contact the Consular Emergency Centre on +61 1300 555 135.

Up-to-date travel bulletins for the affected countries are available at www.smartraveller.gov.au.

Were you or your loved ones caught up in the tsunami disaster? Tell 7news your story.

Casualties

The current reported death toll from all countries is more than 27,000. Thousands more have been injured, left homeless or listed as missing.

Australians in the disaster zone

The Australian Government has confirmed that Australians are among the dead and missing in countries affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

Six Australians have been confirmed dead so far in the tsunami disaster. They are:

Melina Heppell from WA
Paul Giardina from VIC
A three year old from NSW
Males aged 52 and 54 from QLD
An 81 year old female from WA

A further 10 Australians are reported missing.

Aid organisations - how to donate

Care Australia
Care Australia is initiating assessment of the emergency needs of thousands of victims of the massive earthquake off the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Visit www.careaustralia.org.au or call 1800 020 046.

Red Cross
Will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance, and other support to those in need. www.redcross.org.au.

UNICEF
A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team is being dispatched in order to asses the needs of those affected by the disaster, especially women and children. www.supportunicef.org.

World Vision Australia
An appeal has been launched, With World Vision Australia's Tim Costello appealing to Australians to donate. www.worldvision.org.au.

Oxfam
Oxfam and Community Aid Abroad have started work in the region hit by the tsunami. In Sri Lanka, Oxfam is ferrying the injured to hospitals and collecting and identifying the dead.
Find out more at www.oxfam.org.au or call 1800 034 034

Airline information

Qantas: Refunds or transfers to other packages are being offered to Qantas Holidays customers who had tickets to fly to the tsunami-hit zone.

Qantas is advising passengers to talk to their travel agent or call Qantas Holidays on 13 14 15.

Singapore Airlines: Cancellation fees do not apply for passengers booked to fly Singapore Air or Silk Air to affected areas within the next 14 days. Alternatives include refunds, transfers to other tickets or deferred travel.

Contact Singapore Airlines on 1300 888 172

Thai Airways: The airline has waived cancellation fees for passengers booked to fly to areas affected by the tsunamis until January 16, 2005.

For more information contact Thai Airways – Australasian on 1300 651 960.

Phuket Hotels

To see which hotels in the Phuket region of Thailand are still functioning or which have been affected by the tsunami, click here.

Earthquake and tsunami info

Earthquakes
According to the US Geological Survey's website, the earthquake that triggered the tsunami measured 9.0 on the Richter scale and was one of the largest quakes ever recorded. Full details: earthquake.usgs.gov

Tsunamis
Tsunamis are waves caused by sudden movement of the ocean due to earthquakes, landslides on the sea floor, land slumping into the ocean, major volcanic eruptions or large meteorite impacts. More info: www.ga.gov.au.